In 2012, Sebastian Vettel won the championship for the third time, the youngest driver to win 3 championships on consecutive occasions; Lewis Hamilton agreed to join Mercedes from McClaren and Kimi Raikkonen drove superbly in his first season back since retiring. Now testing is well and truly underway in Jerez, but who is better equipped ahead of the much anticipated 2013 season.

Red Bull

Following on from last year successes by clinching the drivers’ championship and constructors championship, Red Bull looked to have created a much improved car that is well and truly capable of doing exactly the same in 2013. The new RB9 is said to be hugely consistent, with no mechanical glitches, and is setting a consistent and fast pace that is averaging 1:18:565 in Jerez by both Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber. However, as the season approaches, due to Vettel proven record, can Webber produce more of a threat to Vettel and other drivers in 2013?

Ferrari

Ferrari had a troublesome time last season. Spaniard, Fernando Alonso was pipped to the post by Vettel, after the F2012 was pegged back in the closing stages of the season. Fellow Ferrari driver, Felipe Massa was nowhere to be seen in 2012, finishing with a rather disappointing 122 points, considering his tremendous ability to drive. However, the new F138 is proving to be a very quick car for 2013, clocking in at 1:17:879, and one of the fastest cars in practice, with improvements still to be made. However, is it still the case for Massa, in that he will always be 2nd best to Fernando Alonso?

McClaren

After setting the pace in Jerez, Jenson Button and co put McClaren as the fastest in practice. Jenson Button recorded a time of 1:18:861 on hard tyres in the first couple days of practice. However, other teams, including Lotus, have caught up, and Martin Whitmarsh may be quacking in his boots. Sergio Perez, who replaced Hamilton, is still to find his feet with the new model, and the new car has had its fair share of problems. The fuel pump and front suspension are the main concerns for McClaren, but can recoup and get it together ahead of the first race in Austrailia?

Mercedes

Despite Nico Rosberg experiencing one of his best seasons to date in 2012, with a win, and a couple of pole positions, and Mercedes recruiting Lewis Hamilton as their other driver, the new WO4 has not proven its worth. A fire to Hamilton’s car was not the start Ross Brawn would have wanted for Mercedes, and a brake failure the following day caused Hamilton to crash into the barriers. Looking at the new car, Hamilton said the car needs more work. Are Mercedes ready for the new season, and has welcoming Hamilton on board been too much of a gamble?

Lotus

It looks as though there could be a dark horse in the 2013 season, and a challenge for Vettel and Red Bull to face, as Lotus look like a force to be beckoned with. The first 2 days of testing saw Frenchman, Romain Grosjean and the ever eccentric, Kimi Raikkonen produce the fastest times for Lotus. The new E21 is said to carry more petrol than usual and keep a fast speed, which is quite a surprise, according to technical director, James Allison. With a win to his name last season, ending on a staggering 207 points last season, and driving a much improved car for 2013, can Raikkonen rekindle the glory days for Lotus F1?

Sauber

Nico Hulkenburg is back in the hot seat with Sauber, alongside new recruit, Esteban Gutierrez, and it looks as though the new C32 can become a threat for 2013. After missing the whole of last season, Hulkenburg has said the new car is’ aesthetically pleasing’ and a ‘fast car’. Well renowned for its fast cornering and great tyre performance over long runs, the C32 is looking like it may be up for the challenge next season, however, can it sustain amount of pressure to challenge the big hitters of F1?

Force India

Young and promising British driver, Paul Di Resta, was tipped to replace Hamilton at McClaren, and continue the all British drivers for the British team. However, he still remains at Force India, and with VJM06 in full swing, from the four days of testing so far, there will not be many changes from last season. Nevertheless, co-driver, and new recruit, Jules Bianchi, looks a driver to look for in the future, setting the second fastest time of day 2 in Jerez and Ferrari are already keeping tabs on the youngster.

Williams

Pastor Maldonado and new driver, Valtteri Bottas, have been made to wait before driving the new FW35, as the Williams have decided to skip testing in Jerez, and focus more on testing in Barcelona. Despite a win in Spain, after a pole position on the grid last season, Maldonado rather dipped in form finishing with only 45 points to his name. With Maldonado’s from, an unknown driver in Bottas in the driver’s seat and skipping testing in Jerez, is it time to panic for the Williams team?

Toro Rosso

Jean-Eric Vergne has said that there are substantial changes from the predecessors of last term, however, at the moment, there has been a slight change in the times, which have gone slightly faster. With Daniel Ricciardo and Vergne confirmed as the Toro Rosso drivers for 2013, it looks as though they have to push the car to its very limit, come 2013. Unless Toro Rosso make substantial changes to the new STR8, Ricciardo and Vergne are in for a long season ahead.

Caterham

With Heikki Kovalainen gone, Vitaly Petrov not even involved for 2013 and Jarno Trulli rejecting advances from Caterham, it looks as though Frenchman, Charles Pic and debutant, Giedo Van Der Garde are in for a long and perilous voyage for Caterham. Furthermore, with lap times tumbling, and a new exhaust filter that was dubbed illegal, it is not the start that Caterham would have wanted. Can they pull it back, in order to mainstay there chances in the upcoming season?

Marussia

Marussia’s new line up of Englishman, Max Chilton, who came from Formula 3 racing, and Brazil’s Luiz Razia, a breath of fresh air is set to grace the F1 tracks, with the new drivers and new car. With Marussia not expected to finish in a high position, they can come away with the fact they have completed all four days of testing in Jerez with no major problems, and have finally installed the new KERS system to the new car. Can the Marussia prove most people wrong and finish higher than expected?

As a dramatic new season concluded, and with 26 year old Sebastien Vettel equaling fellow German great Michael Schumacher’s record in winning three straight world championships, it begs the question to me, what is the future of F1?

Well, from my perspective it all comes down to one crucial element that is now absolutly critical in almost every Sport, money, money and more money!

You can now safely say that the driving days of Sir Jackie Stewart, Sterling Moss, Alain Prost and of course Ayrton Senna are now extinct, when all that was avaiable to them was an acceleration pedal and a steering wheel!

In today’s world, there are too many components in order for Mr. Ecclestone to pocket a few millions, but is it destroying the love of racing?

Sponsorship, adveristisement, endorsements, technology, prize money, all of these are now high priority in the world of Formula 1, and all of these are also linked to the most expensive sport in the world, Football.

And with the recent movements of Lewis Hamilton controversially leaving McClaren to join forces with Nico Rosberg at Mercedes and young Mexican, Sergio Perez replacing Hamilton to partner Jenson Button at McClaren, drivers are changing teams quicker than footballers are.

So, the most fundamental question that needs to be answered is why has Formula 1 become more of a business venture than an exciting and enternaining sport to watch?